How to Look Hot And Stay Cool This Fourth of July #TrendTea

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Fourth of July is one of the greatest days of the year. We get to celebrate the independence of our incredible nation and spend time with our family and closest friends. As much as I enjoy the patriotic decorations and sparklers, I look forward to choosing my 4th of July outfit more than anything else. A good Fourth of July outfit needs to be comfortable enough to wear all day in the hot and humid July heat and festive enough to help you stand out in a sea of red, white, and blue outfits. This year, I’m hosting my first Fourth of July party, so I was determined to find the perfect outfit and find the best refreshments to keep my guest cool in the hot weather. I scavenged every store in the mall to find the best red, white, and blue ensemble and headed over to Target to pick up my favorite Bigelow Tea for my make-your-own iced tea bar!

Red, white, and blue is a classic combination, but it’s easy to over-do it with the bright colors. I recommend choosing one color to be the focus of the outfit and use the other two colors as accents. This way, you’ll still be showing your patriotic spirit, but you’ll be able to wear each piece of your outfit all year long! After finding this red and white dress, I instantly knew that I’d found a winner. It’s lightweight cotton and just the right length.

I accented my waistline with a patent leather navy belt that I picked up at Target, and I added a delicate gold floral necklace and brown leather wrap bracelet to add a bit of shine to the outfit.

I couldn’t resist throwing on my favorite navy espadrilles and a Fourth of July-themed manicure! To re-create the look, simply alternate red, blue, and gold glitter polish on your nails. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s guaranteed to get compliments. Light makeup is the way to go in warmer weather, but you can’t forget glossy light red lips. Dab your favorite red lipstick onto your lips and blend the color out with your finger to create a more subdued stain. Add your favorite red or orange gloss to finish your perfect summer pout!

Adding soft curls may seem like a fancy touch for an outdoor party, but straight hair will frizz and poof up on a humid day. Lightly curling your hair will help to keep your hair under control at your big event. If your hair ends up getting wet from the rain or jumping into the pool, simply tie your hair into a braid!

To help keep my guests cool, I’m creating a make your own iced tea bar by the pool! I’m brewing two of my favorite flavored iced teas for summer and serving flavored syrups, lemonades, and fresh fruit alongside. My guest can fill up their mason jar with their desired toppings and create their own custom iced tea! Bigelow Tea makes my favorite tea products, and I love using them in fruity iced teas throughout the warmer months. To create my Iced Lemon Pomegranate Green Tea, simply combine 3 parts brewed Bigelow Tea in Green Tea with Lemon to 1 part brewed Bigelow Tea in Pomegranate Pizzazz. Chill and serve with flavored syrups such as lemon or mango and fresh berries! Another simple but incredible recipe is my Iced Southern Peach Tea. This classic recipe couldn’t be easier. Add two parts Bigelow Tea in English Teatime to one part Bigelow Tea in Perfect Peach. I like to chill this combination and serve with peach or vanilla syrup and fresh raspberries! For both of these teas, you can leave them unsweetened or add sugar, honey, or flavored syrup to your desired taste.

Of course, you absolutely must serve your iced tea in mason jars. I’m partial to the limited edition blue mason jars that I picked up at Target, but the clear or green varieties are just a charming! As an added bonus, your guests can simply screw on the lid to the jar at the end of the day and take any leftover tea home.

You can easily find Bigelow Tea in the coffee and tea aisle at your local Target. I recently learned that Bigelow Tea is 100% American made, and they have sent nearly 4 million bags of tea to our troops overseas through their Bigelow’s Tea for Troops program! These two facts make me love the brand even more and make it the perfect addition to any Fourth of July event! If you’d like to find out more about the Tea for Troops program, you can visit the website here. You can stay in touch with Bigelow Tea through their website, Facebook, and Twitter.

What are your Fourth of July plans? What’s your favorite type of iced tea?

I love your outfit- the red is so pretty! Also the iced tea bar sounds so fun- such a unique idea!<br /><br />xo, Hima<br /><a href="http://www.hima-hearts.blogspot.com&quot; rel="nofollow">Hima Hearts</a>

I love how subtly you are rocking the fourth of july look! I am in Canada, so likely no plans but I will be celebrating Canada Day on the 1st and not sure what type of outfit I will put together yet!<br /><br />Michelle | <a href="http://www.alovelyallure.com&quot; rel="nofollow">A Lovely Allure</a>

You look gorgeous in your Fourth of July outfit and I love your festive manicure! I&#39;m definitely planning to recreate it with my five year old daughter this week! Your tea bar featuring Bigelow tea and your favorite tea recipes with fresh fruit will be awesome! #client